Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Fabric and Fiber Necklace

Try adding some fiber fun to your jewelry-making this Summer season! You can set off a handmade bead or component with soft materials, like in this necklace.

Materials:

6 Fabric covered 20mm
beads in assorted colors

3 Cotton cord
covered 20mm beads in pink and white

1 Crimson glass link

1 Pink 40” hand-dyed silk
ribbon

2 Antiqued brass 19mm ribbon
ends

1 Vintaj 35x11mm hook
and eye clasp

2 ½” of cameo dupioni silk
ribbon

Tools:

Chain nose pliers

Painter’s tape (optional)

Nylon jaw pliers (optional)

Big eye beading needle

Fabric glue

Scissors

Ruler

Finished Size: 20”

Tip: If you don’t have nylon
jaw pliers, try wrapping painter’s tape around the jaws of your chain nose pliers to
prevent marring the ribbon end findings.

1: Cut the ribbon 2” from the
end. *Apply glue along the cut edge, fold the ribbon over ¼” and let dry. Apply
glue to the inside of one ribbon end. Insert the folded ribbon into the ribbon
end and squeeze the finding closed with nylon jaw pliers. Let dry. Use chain
nose pliers to open one loop of the clasp. String on the loop of the ribbon end
and close the loop of the clasp like you would a jump ring.*

2: Tie an overhand knot 4”
from the ribbon end. Thread the opposite end of the ribbon through the big eye
of the beading needle. String 3 fabric beads, tying an overhand knot after each
bead. Then, alternate between cord covered and fabric covered beads for the
next 6 beads, ending with a fabric covered bead.

3: Tie an overhand knot
around one side of the glass link. Tie an overhand knot around the opposite
side of the link. Tie another overhand knot against the previous knot.

4: Cut the ribbon 4 ½” from
the last knot. Repeat step 1 from * to *.

5: Place the piece of dupioni
silk between the glass link and the last fabric covered bead and tie it on with
an overhand knot. Apply glue to the knot and let dry. Trim ends to 1” and fray.

Erin, this project is close to my heart! While I have only started dabbling in jewelry design, fabric and I go back a LONG way (to my childhood in the '60s). This brings to mind the headbands we used to weave. Thanks for the colourful inspiration!A Canadian fan.